By Alan G
April 8 2006

David Connelly could be set to partner Jason Roberts up front as Henri Camara and Andreas Johansson are both doubtful. Camara has not returned home from a family funeral in Senegal and, even if he does return prior to the game, whether he is in any fit state to play the match remains to be seen.

Johansson picked up a knee injury in the draw with Blackburn on Monday and he faces a late fitness test to see if he is fit.

 

Latics manager Paul Jewell wants his team to continue to push for a UEFA cup place stating: "We have a realistic chance of getting there and will be trying to get as many points as we possibly can.

 

"If we play well between now and the end of the season we might amass enough points. If we play like we did against Sunderland and West Ham, we won't."

Birmingham will be without midfielders Stephen Clemence and Nicky Butt after they both picked up hamstring injuries.

Midfielders David Dunn and Muzzy Izzet, striker Chris Sutton and defender Matthew Upson have all been included.

Jewell feels some sympathy with the Birmingham boss (although he may be the only Latic to feel this way) and said: “It is horrible situation to be in when you are trying to avoid relegation,

"It is gut-wrenching, you don't sleep, you have permanent butterflies in your stomach. I do not envy him.

"I like Steve and John Benson, who I know well. I hope they stay up. I hope Birmingham win five out of their last six games.

The manager and players deserve great credit for the way they came back after humiliating defeat by Liverpool", added Jewell.

"Birmingham managed to keep a clean sheet against Chelsea and are showing terrific spirit."

Latics (from): Filan, Chimbonda, De Zeeuw, Scharner, Baines, Teale, Bullard, Kavanagh, McCulloch, Johansson, Roberts, Camara, Connolly, Jackson, Pollitt, Thompson, Ziegler.

 

Birmingham (from): Maik Taylor, Tebily, Cunningham, Martin Taylor, Sadler, Pennant, Johnson, Dunn, Izzet, Sutton, Upson, Melchiot, Kilkenny, Jarosik, Heskey, Forssell, Campbell, Lazaridis, Latka, Vaesen.

 Referee: Howard Webb (S. Yorkshire)